Absolute Chaos At Ironman Ireland -- Hands Up / No Response

The sea swim at youghal which was deemed to be safe by triathlon ireland and ironman where 2 individuals lost their lives with a further 2 critical

[@resistireland694]

Unforgivable, absolutely Unforgivable! God 🙏 Bless the Families of Both Men.....

[@Mike75575]

That person was in desperate need of assistance, Good to see that another swimmer was going to their assistance. The sea was clearly too rough ,a swell with breakers and a rocky shoreline.

[@thisbigladruns6180]

Alot of the participants were heroes and put competition aside to help one another

[@johnacky]

I was in the middle of that chaos, and kept stopping for anyone in distress. It needed many more kayaks in the water. After the first buoy the swim was crazy quick

[@rastakuere]

no jet ski at all ?

[@bennymud]

I agree 100% it definitely needed more help in the water! I was in the middle of it too! It was a strong current and was difficult to help others while trying to stay safe also! But this video is very disturbing to watch too!

[@philgerard4560]

Hey John is there an email where I could get in touch?

[@andymurph3394]

My father is a fishermen for over 50 years. My grandfather and all his bothers were also fishermen as well. They were also in the lifeboat. When we were kids my father wouldn't allow us to swim in that part of the beach because there was always very strong currents there. It was always a red flag area. Always after a storm there a storm at sea for two days so how they didn't know this. There was also a little boy drowned there in the same area only a few years ago the tide was turning he was gone in a second There would have been alot more drown only for they got help. The swim should have been cancelled

[@thisbigladruns6180]

100%, I was speaking to more and they mentioned the worse part wasnt captured which was at the buoys.... he said literally bodies were crashing in and hitting heads etc... twas wild. A surfer from the area has similiar stories and its terrifying how the locals knew it was rough 🙈

[@bastogne315]

Iron Man is owned by Neste Condi apparently? Big business

[@bastogne315]

Note this is not an extreme sport. Properly organised its a perfectly safe sport. This was far from properly organised.

[@gregcrotty2472]

Are those spectators ready to give witness statments

[@thisbigladruns6180]

Loads were on the radio today discussing it. There will be more as Triathlon ireland released the following statement: Statement from Darren Coombes, CEO Triathlon Ireland. Triathlon Ireland is reeling from the news that Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall, athletes in the Ironman Cork event in Youghal, tragically died yesterday morning while participating in the race. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ivan's and Brendan’s loved ones. The triathlon community is a very close community and this loss has had a devastating effect on all of us. Triathlon Ireland is the National Governing Body for triathlon in Ireland, a role which includes providing sanction for club and commercial races to proceed. In our almost 40 year history, the sport in Ireland has an impeccable safety record. For the Ironman Cork event, in line with normal practice, Triathlon Ireland Technical Officials attended before the start of the race to review the conditions and carry out a water safety assessment. Due to adverse conditions on the day, Triathlon Ireland Technical Officials confirmed to the race organisers that it was not possible to sanction the race. As there is an investigation ongoing, at this stage it would not be appropriate for us to make any further comment only to state that Triathlon Ireland will provide any assistance that the authorities require. Finally, we reiterate our deepest condolences to the families of Ivan Chittenden and Brendan Wall. END Media Enquiries please contact Deirdre Waldron; [e-mail] [phone] Ciara Jordan; [e-mail]; [phone]

[@na-dk9vm]

​@@thisbigladruns6180do you think next year's ironman race will go ahead???

[@bastogne315]

Wow they were swimming on to rocks on the way back as well???

[@bastogne315]

I didnt see a single rescue kayak within 200m of them lads. Wtf was this the Hunger Games???

[@thisbigladruns6180]

That was another issue called out which was the volunteer to participant ratio -- 2 dead and 2 currently critical that i know off. Volunteers in the cayaks and surf boards couldnt get close in fear of their own safety -- its absolute madness following a storm the days prior

[@bastogne315]

I surf kayak and compete nationally. You'd need to be on on top of your game in that surf to rescue someone. I mean you'd have to be an extremely competent kayaker and not just a club paddler.

[@thisbigladruns6180]

@@bastogne315 That an Amazing accomplishment -- guys i know only do it for leisure but the guys out there just wanted to help people and the organisers put there lives at risk too.

[@bastogne315]

Anyone ever get charged with manslaughter??

[@YasserHosnyAbdelrahman]

What a terrible tragedy… 😢

[@ParzivalPheonix]

Someone's going to prison.

[@thisbigladruns6180]

TI official gives the race director a piece of paper which is your race permit shortly before the race starts, literally in the final half hour, saying that it has undergone TI sanctioning process and that is signed by 2 Technical officials and the Race organiser, so it’s pretty simple, they had a race permit to start the race or they didn’t. However i don't think anyone will go to prison, it's Ireland and theres no such thing as accountability or due diligence etc.

[@bastogne315]

3-4ft waves dont sound much but they can be lethal quickly. Who put swimmers at risk like that??

[@thisbigladruns6180]

Apparently Ironman despite advice from both the governing body Triathlon Ireland who sanctions ( insures) the event and the RNLI telling them to cancel the swim

[@patricksarsfield5138]

Swimmers put themselves at risk. Anyone could see it was dangerous. Just because you pay 200 euro for entry doesn't mean your safety is guaranteed.

[@bastogne315]

​@@patricksarsfield5138You work for the promoters???

[@oreilp25]

There are serious athletes who partake in these events. The have a goes who don't have the sea swimming ability have to make a judgement call themselves on the conditions and their own abilities. Not blindly follow the event organisers. That being said, It's a shit venue for a triathlon swim anyway. Boats can't get close to shore in the surf. It really should be taken inland. IIRC this is the second time a swim has had to be adjusted at the Cork Ironman event. All that said, it is still a tragic loss.

[@thisbigladruns6180]

@@oreilp25 Next year was meant to be the last year in Youghal before they were for moving it. The suggestions included Galway which wouldn't be much better as its quite exposed around salthill etc. I participate in a triathlon inland Tri Tyrone 70.3 -- its a great triathlon -- they really have a sense of passion that they love the event and the post race goodies are amazing

[@Georgeconna32]

ya man bollixed after 10 mins after training for how long?....Wet suit on anyhow so wont sink. No one will hear you with the wave noise either.

[@thisbigladruns6180]

Most participants have a solid base going into a triathlon having spent years in a previous discipline like running etc. Then when going for an ironman over 1 year specific training -- There has to be a better way to signal for help and promote safety at sea like a safety balloon that can rise at your location for example that you wear on your wrist

[@bastogne315]

You work for the promoters?

[@thisbigladruns6180]

No -- I am a participant who enjoys the sport

[@stevewoolley4988]

You don't know what the issue is, could be nothing to do with fitness. Could be having a fit or a heart attack

[@thisbigladruns6180]

@@stevewoolley4988 or it is the fact that the governing body Triathlon Ireland and RNLI said the conditions were not safe and could not be sanctioned resulting in 2 people dead and a further 2 critical that we are aware off. Both participants have completed ironman events prior and are experienced to say

[@bimble205]

"ironman cork- toughest ironman in the world"

[@Tinamar65]

Who is filming this? Darth Vader?

[@seangage9088]

This is awful.....

[@bastogne315]

It's also murder...but no one at conde nest is responsible

[@markthemill]

Come on lads wake up that's not very rough at all, a 40 year old neighbor of mine dropped dead last year in the run section of a triathlon, footballers dropping on a regular basis, you all need to face reality , you've been fooled into taking something which I'm not allowed to mention here..

[@bastogne315]

You get in and swim it after the next big storm....just give me 300 e first and I'll tell u its hunkey...and if u get in trouble ill be on the horizon to rescue u..

[@markthemill]

@@bastogne315 worked on boats all my life, canoe ,surf I've been out in bigger waves as a child on a day out at the beach, open your eyes,they are not big waves , rte have guys on making it sound like it was crazy out there yet there's guys online who completed in it saying it was nothing out of the ordinary,if you really care about people dying you should be asking yourself why is the excessive death rate in Ireland currently running at 20%

[@bastogne315]

​@@markthemillOmg 20% tell me more. Is it the covid antibodies?????

[@markthemill]

@@bastogne315 I'm not sure if you're being sarcastic or not but ,that's the official figure, Waterford had the highest excess at 45%, and it's also the county with the highest v(can't say it or my script will be taken down) rate, those figures are insane, there's far more people dying now than in 2020

[@markthemill]

To the KZbin shadow banners, I hope you're vaccinated up to your eyeballs

[@donmullan3397]

Initially it was reported the deceased had underlying health conditions. The postmortems will add light to this. Storm Betty had just passed over Ireland. The sea is clearly in turmoil and the waves appear challenging and threatening. First port of call is safety for the participants. Unless there was unanimity from all involved in organising, managing and monitoring the event, it should not have proceeded. It now appears there was not. It was a difficult call on the day to proceed, especially as hundreds of participants were gathering with family and friends, and hundreds more Irinman enthusiasts and spectators arriving. Ironman Ireland bears the brunt of responsibility for proceeding. However, an extreme sporting event such as Ironman, where athletes push themselves beyond endurance, requires stronger checks and balances. First call should be made by those who know the sea. The second call, based on that advice, should be made by the governing body. And lastly, with the professional recommendations of the above, Ironman should base its decision to proceed or cancel in the best interests of the participating athletes. Without unanimous agreement, the event is cancelled. The best memorial we can raise to those who perished is a new governance structure that ensures the advice and recommendations of those who know the sea, and the governing body, cannot be ignored. And this should be applied, not just in Ireland, but right across the world.

[@bastogne315]

Yeah I'm sure the promoters will be treading water with that one while trying to slither for cover. We all have underlying health conditions if that's the case!

[@donmullan2804]

'

[@donmullan2804]

'a fake wave expert', now there's a puzzle. And according to this comment, the two deceased, 'RIP', have only themselves to blame.

[@lsamanamud]

Covid vaccine, rip